It will undertake studies in countries like Burundi, Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Timor-Leste in order to conduct a policy and institutional review of the UN peace-building architecture.

It will also develop findings and recommendations based on this work.

The group will submit a report to the General Assembly and the Security Council for further consideration through an inter-governmental process.

Background

Earlier in December 2014, the Presidents of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council had asked the Secretary-General to nominate up to seven experts to form an Advisory Group on the review of the peace-building architecture.

About Saraswathi Menon

She is former Director of the Policy Division in UN-Women and has extensive experience as a researcher and academician as well as in the UN system.

Earlier she was Director of UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) Evaluation Office.

Her UN career includes experience in both policy and programme areas. She has served in UNDP as Resident Coordinator, Deputy Resident Representative in various countries.

Before joining the UNDP, she was lecturer in sociology at the Madras University, Tamil Nadu.